Give us more CCTV, say Perth and Kinross residents

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People in Perth and Kinross blighted by anti-social behaviour and other criminal activity have called for more CCTV cameras to be put up across the region to help police prosecute people breaking the law.

Responses to a recent council consultation obtained by the PA using Freedom of Information (FoI) legislation, reveal residents are becoming increasingly concerned about youths congregating and behaving badly at night in several locations where there is no camera cover at the moment.

Perth and Kinross Council ran the six-week long consultation in the final quarter of last year to find out if members of the public, organisations and businesses believe CCTV cameras make locals feel safer and aid police with their investigations ahead of a new system being installed.

A report released afterwards by officials summarised the 287 responses they received by saying the majority of respondents either strongly agreed or agreed the presence of CCTV cameras in Perth city centre reduced crime and increased public safety.

Residents are calling for more CCTV in Perth and Kinross

The responses seen by the PA reveal many people who took part in the consultation also reckon extra cameras need to be put up in places out with the city centre as well as in towns like Kinross where they say anti-social behaviour is on the rise.

One member of the public suggested there is a “strong need” for camera coverage in areas around the White Bridge and Rae Place in Perth at the moment, adding: “I have observed many instances where this would help the police.

“Also there were many times when drunken youths were causing nuisance.

“Clearly visible CCTV would surely help to reduce this type of behaviour.”

A second member of the public said of the same area: “In the last couple of years there [has been] a high number of serious criminal [offences] in these areas including ... drug dealing, anti-social behaviour, sexual assaults [and] fights.

“This area is well known to local police.”

Drunken youths are said to have caused a nuisance at this crossing in the past

Meanwhile a third individual called for extra camera coverage in Rodney Gardens, Riverside Park and Bellwood Park in Perth “to counter frequent anti-social behaviour from large groups of young drinkers”.

And a fourth told PKC: “I am in favour of improving the CCTV as well as hope that this change will add more cameras to certain areas, for example near the parks. In recent months there has been an increase of youths gathering at the North Inch. They gather at the benches by the river, consume alcohol and smoke, because they feel out of sight as there are no lights or cameras there.”

A fifth individual added: “The South Inch tunnels and paths need CCTV to monitor large groups of young people forming in the evenings.”

And a sixth claimed cameras are needed at an unspecified new build at Muirton. The respondent remarked: “They would help in identifying the threats/crimes/violent outbursts that have been going on.”

Meanwhile another respondent, identified as a “business owner/operator/representative in Perth city” in PKC’s response to our FoI request, suggested more cameras are needed in the city centre.

The individual told PKC: “I feel that a better CCTV presence would reduce crime in the [city] centre, we are hit daily with shoplifting.

“Please put cameras in the vennels.”

The gardens near the River Tay in Perth

Other respondents complained about the current coverage in Perth.

One told PKC: “Half the time the cameras are bent over not even looking at anything or just looking in one direction. I imagine Perth is full of crime blackspots - places ... people know aren’t covered by CCTV so can commit crime and get away with it.”

Another respondent complained bitterly about the lack of coverage in a specific area targeted by criminals that PKC opted not to name in its response to our FOI request.

The individual remarked: “Police have never been able to prosecute because they have been unable to identify the culprits.”

And worryingly another respondent, identified by PKC as “a community representative/elected representative”, remarked: “Some people have told me that the CCTV [is] switched off most of the time. If this is true, I think the value of CCTV is wholly undermined and will be worthless.”

Several respondents suggested Kinross also needs cameras right now.

One claimed: “We urgently need CCTV in Kinross as the level of anti-social behaviour and damage being done by gangs of teenagers is at an all-time high and totally unacceptable. Something needs to done now.”

Another said: “Please can we put [cameras] where there is anti-social behaviour - say, for example, the skate park at Kinross.”

And another claimed: “I would like to see CCTV in Kinross as the level of [anti-social] behaviour is awful.

Kinross Skate Park

“If there was CCTV it may help the police put a stop to this. The skate park is one of [their] favourite places to go but they also shout at the public, terrorise the local neighbours [and] damage public property. Not a week goes by without something happening. I really feel that it needs to be addressed because if they get away with it others will follow.”

Many residents supported more cameras being put up, suggesting individuals who do not want more cameras have something to hide.

One respondent remarked: “No-one should have any objections to CCTV, unless of course they are up to no good. We are becoming too much of a snowflake generation. If just one person complains it appears we back down. CCTV is for the protection of everyone.”

PKC’s report on last year’s consultation, which is available online, concluded: “We are exploring the options for redeployable CCTV units, which could be deployed on a temporary basis to tackle a wide variety of anti-social behaviours in emerging hot spots.”